Twenty-one VOAz volunteers surveyed approximately 3 square miles within the King's Anvil Ranch to locate, mark and photograph the endangered Pima pineapple cactus (PPC) plants. During the 1-1/2 day event they located 21 plants, a very good result considering the terrain and other survey conditions. An especially big "thank you" to the three team leaders for this event, selected on short-notice Saturday morning: Tom Rime, Jackie Keller and Michael Baker. After a hasty orientation to the details involved, they led their respective teams across 3 mile long transects using nothing more than a GPS compass bearing. Twenty-one volunteers went out and 21 returned- another happy occasion. Sunday, the five remaining volunteers returned to survey another ¼ mile wide transect and located 4 more plants.

Bob Schmalzel, biologist, contributed all the orientation and training required to conduct this successful event. He easily shared his many years of accumulated knowledge and experience with this plant and its pollinators, leaving everyone more aware and informed about a rare and beautiful cactus. Thank you, Cactus Bob!

Saturday night, after dinner, Sarah and Joe King gave us some interesting background on their family’s four generation operation on the ranch and its role in the Altar Valley Conservation Alliance efforts to use controlled burns to help restore balance to the land. Later, while Venus and Jupiter stood guard over Kitt Peak, four lucky VOAz volunteers were randomly selected to receive drawing prizes. Skylar Bowen, 14, took the big prize: A Coast multi-LED flashlight. We also recognized Janet Millard for her 20th event this week end with her second 10-pin award. Thank you for your commitment to VOAz, Janet!